Nov 20, 2013 2 min read

State Sen. Tim Solobay, D-Canonsburg, Tuesday joined Senate colleagues to announce a series of bills to help Pennsylvania veterans return to civilian life.

“We have all seen and heard stories about the struggles of veterans,” Solobay said. “The legislation in this plan is targeted at specific problems and it will go a long way toward helping veterans and their families.”

Solobay, Democratic chair of the Senate Veterans Affairs and Emergency Preparedness Committee, discussed the legislation, titled “Saluting Pa. Veterans,” at a Capitol news conference where he was joined by Senate Democratic Leader Sen. Jay Costa, D-Allegheny, and Senate Democratic Appropriations Chair Vincent J. Hughes, D-Philadelphia.

The plan contains measures intended to help returning veterans with education, housing and jobs, in addition to initiatives that provide monetary assistance, counseling services and finanical relief for families.

“The wars in Iraq and Afghanistan presented unique challenges for our soldiers,” Solobay said. “They experienced extended deployments while their families at home faced a historic recession. They suffered a high rate of injury and loss of limbs and many came home to a system that was unprepared for them.”

The Salute Pa. Veterans Plan includes:

• $40 million in bonds to provide payments to veterans of the Iraq and Afghanistan wars;

• A pilot peer-to-peer counseling program for veterans to address post-traumatic stress disorder, traumatic brain injury, military sexual trauma, and rising rates of suicide;

• $20 million for veterans’ housing projects, and veteran preference in public housing;

• Housing assistance grants to homeless or imminently homeless veterans and help with down payments or closing-costs for veterans buying homes;

• Increased funding for Veterans Emergency Assistance Program, along with extended deadlines, and expanded maximum Military Family Relief Assistance;

• A training program under the Department of Health to help emergency service providers recognize and treat veterans suffering from post-traumatic stress disorder or brain injury as well as creation of the Veterans Traumatic Brain Injury, Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder, and Military Sexual Trauma Public Service Announcement Fund;

• Priority for subsidized child care to veterans and families of active duty military.

Senate Democrats had previously introduced several legislative items within the context of their PA Works plan. These have been incorporated into the Saluting Pa Veterans plan.